Machine for cleaning tunnels, walls and similar

ABSTRACT

The machine comprises a rotating crane column ( 1 ) with a telescopic arm ( 3 ) activatable by a hydraulic cylinder ( 5 ). The arm ( 3 ) supports a second arm ( 6 ) to which the cleaning tools ( 7 ) are fitted. The arm ( 6 ) can make different movements with a view to directing and adapting the cleaning tools ( 7 ) over any surface (walls, ceiling and floor). Said cleaning tools ( 7 ) are fitted to a chassis ( 22 ) attached to the arm ( 6 ), a chassis ( 22 ) which has a series of mutually articulated sections ( 22′ ), in such a way that the various articulated arms, sections and elements enable all types of movements driven by appropriate hydraulic cylinders ( 10, 15, 25, 29 ).

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

As stated in the title of this descriptive specification, the presentinvention relates to a machine for cleaning tunnels, walls and similar,which has been conceived for being able to carry out the cleaning in allkinds of tunnels, whether the roadway is wide or narrow, whether theheight is high or low, as well as in tunnels with square cross-sectionor even those in the form of an arch in which the roof has a verypronounced curvature.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine capable of carryingout cleaning operations in tunnels, for both the walls and the roof andfloor, on the basis of some special means which permit the positions ofthe cleaning tools to be adapted in the most appropriate and convenientway, according to is the type of tunnel or surface to be cleaned in eachcase.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When cleaning tunnels, machines are normally used which are mounted onthe trailer of a towing vehicle, whether this be a truck or othervehicle for hauling and/or appropriate transportation, and in thisregard a machine described in WO 9749868 can be cited, as well as thatdescribed in Spanish Utility Model U 9301786, in which a machine isdescribed that is preferably hauled with a towing vehicle and thatcomprises a tank with water for cleaning, along with an array of armswith nozzles for the outlet of water which is projected in the form of acurtain on the surfaces to clean. The cleaning elements themselves whichconsist of brushes, are fitted in a chassis made up of severalarticulated sections which can be activated by hydraulic cylinders, saidchassis with the brushes forming a unit which is mounted in articulatedfashion on the telescopic arm provided on the platform of the machine orcarrier vehicle under consideration.

The said machine is valid for cleaning concrete tunnels in the form ofan arch and those that are wide, carrying out the cleaning in thedirection perpendicular to that in which the machine itself advances.

Nevertheless, when the tunnel has a square cross-section or its roof hasa large curvature, or it is low and also very narrow, then the machinedescribed in U 93017686 is not valid, or at least it encounters seriousdifficulties when it comes to carrying out the cleaning of the roof andwalls, and it is currently impossible to clean the floor or theleft-hand wall for all kinds of tunnel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The machine forming the object of the present invention presents aseries of features which permit an efficient cleaning to be carried outon any kind of tunnel, whether of the kind which has its roof in apronounced arch and/or very high, or the kind which has a rectangular orquadrangular cross-section etc., which is achieved on the basis ofcertain means that allow for rotation and/or swiveling both upwards anddownwards, as well as to the right and to the left, and it can be saidthat it performs three movements of rotation which make it possible toposition the brushes on any part and surface.

Specifically, the inventive machine consists of a rotating cane columnfitted on the appropriate transport or hauling vehicle, to which columnis fitted an upper telescopic arm, with the ability to swivel upwardsand downwards in order is to position its end at a higher or lowerheight, and fitted to this arm is an arm for holding the cleaning tools,the latter arm being able to rotate to the right or to the left in thehorizontal plane, as well as to swivel upwards or downwards, and to havean end part holding the cleaning brushes, with the ability to rotate inorder to achieve the folded position during transportation or theextended position in the work position, all this in such a way that,based on said rotations and/or swivelings, three movements areestablished which correspond to those that are considered as being thefolding movement, the twisting movement and the tilting movement,according to three different points of rotation.

In terms of the means which the machine incorporates so that the armholding the cleaning tools can perform the movement of folding towardsthe left and towards the right in the horizontal plane, these areconstituted on the basis of a rotation shaft, by means of which theunion is established between the telescopic arm of the crane, saidrotation shaft belonging to that telescopic arm, and with respect towhich is mounted a first piece which corresponds to the initial part ofthe arm holding the cleaning tools, in order to permit the rotation ofthe latter with respect to the said telescopic arm of the crane. Thatpart of the arm holding the cleaning tools incorporates a hydrauliccylinder attached, via an articulation, to the first piece belonging tothe said arm holding the cleaning tools, while the piston of thatcylinder is articulated via its end to the actual arm of the crane, insuch a way that the extension and/or retraction of the piston entailsthe lateral pushing or pulling of the arm holding the cleaning tools andwith it the rotation of the same in one direction or the other, formingin each case an angle with the said telescopic arm of the crane.

In terms of the means which the machine incorporates so that the armholding the cleaning tools can perform the swiveling movement oftwisting upwards or downwards in the vertical plane, these areconstituted on the basis of the first piece belonging to the initialpart of the arm holding the cleaning tools, on which first piece isarticulated, via a rotation shaft, a second piece belonging to that arm.Articulated to the rear end of the first piece is a hydraulic cylinderwhose piston is simultaneously articulated to two plates, onearticulated via its other end to said first piece and the otherarticulated via its free end to the second piece of the said arm holdingthe cleaning tools, in such a way that the extension or retraction ofthe piston of the hydraulic cylinder entails the swiveling upwards ordownwards of the said second piece and with it that of the is rest ofthe arm holding the cleaning tools.

In terms of the means which the machine incorporates so that the arm canhold the cleaning tools, and more specifically the chassis forming partof that arm and in which the actual cleaning tools are fitted, they areconstituted on the basis of a third piece articulated to the secondpiece of the said arm, and joined via its other end to the actualchassis of the cleaning tools. Between both second and third pieces isfitted a hydraulic cylinder whose piston is articulated to the secondpiece of the arm, while the cylinder itself is attached to the thirdpiece, in such a way that the extension or retraction of the piston ofthe cylinder entails the rotation in the vertical plane in one directionor the other of the third piece and therefore of the chassis in whichthe cleaning tools are fitted.

In accordance with the three movements described for the arm holding thecleaning tools, the cleaning can be carried out of any kind of tunnel,be it of the kind with an arched roof, or of quadrangular or rectangularcross-section, permitting to carry out the cleaning of walls and floorswith complete efficiency, by virtue of the fact that the chassis onwhich the cleaning brushes or tools are fitted is determined by asuccession of articulated sections on one side and the other, in whichsections the actual brushes constituting the cleaning tools are fitted,said sections being able to occupy different angular positions betweeneach other, commanded by the respective hydraulic cylinders associatedwith the same, and thereby being able to adopt a trajectory that istwisted, appreciably bent or straight and thus being able to adaptitself to the surfaces to clean.

Finally, it can be said that the machine will be complemented with theappropriate water/detergent ducts along with control and handlingdevices for its correct functioning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description that is going to be madeforthwith, and with the aim of facilitating a better understanding ofthe characteristics of this invention, this specification is accompaniedby a set of drawings on the basis of which the innovations andadvantages of the inventive machine will be more easily understood.

FIG. 1. Shows a general schematic view of the machine on a carriervehicle.

FIG. 2. Shows a perspective view of part of the machine where the meansof rotation in the horizontal plane, to the left and the right, of thearm holding the cleaning tools are established.

FIG. 3. Shows a perspective view of part of the machine where the meansof swiveling upwards and downwards of the arm holding the cleaning toolsare established.

FIG. 4. Shows a perspective view of part of the machine where the meansof rotation in the vertical plane of the chassis, forming part of thearm holding the cleaning tools are established, in which chassis theactual cleaning tools are fitted.

FIG. 5. Shows a schematic plan view of the telescopic arm belonging tothe crane of the machine, connected to the arm holding the cleaningtools and the chassis of this arm with the articulated sections on whichthe actual cleaning tools will be fitted. This figure allows one to seeby means of dashed lines the different angular positions which can beoccupied by the sections of the chassis corresponding to the arm of thecleaning tools.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With the said figures in view, it can be seen how the machine formingthe object of the invention is constituted on the basis of a cranecolumn 1 mounted in rotating fashion on the platform of a carriervehicle 2, which can be a truck, a tractor with trailer, etc.Articulated on the upper end of said column 1 is a telescopic arm 3 ableto swivel upwards or downwards by means of a hydraulic cylinder 4, saidtelescopic arm 3 having another hydraulic cylinder 5 which is in chargeof carrying out the extension or retraction of said arm 3, the free endof which is in turn articulated to an arm 6 holding the cleaning tools7, such as brushes, scrapers or similar.

The said arm 6 can carry out various rotation movements in order toappropriately direct and adapt the cleaning tools 7 on the surface toclean, whether these be the side walls or even the floor, independentlyof the width, height and general configuration of the tunnel inquestion.

One of the movements which the arm 6 can make is the horizontal rotationto the left and to the right with respect to a rotation shaft 8 providedin the end of the telescopic arm 3 and secured to it. This rotationshaft 8 forms a means of articulation of a first piece 9 belonging tothe arm 6 on the actual telescopic arm 3, to which piece 9 is laterallyarticulated the body of a hydraulic cylinder 10 whose piston 10′ isarticulated to the actual telescopic arm 3. The articulation of the bodyof the cylinder 10 to the first piece 9 of the arm is referenced with11, while the articulation of the piston 10′ to the telescopic arm 3 isreferenced with 12. On the basis of the aforementioned means, when thepiston 10′ of the cylinder 10 extends or retracts, the rotation of thepiece 9 will take place and therefore of the entire arm 6 to the left orto the right, forming an angle with respect to the telescopic arm 3.

Another movement which the arm 6 can make is that of swiveling in thevertical plane, upwards or downwards, for which provision has been madefor a second piece 13 of the arm 6 to be articulated by means of therotation or swiveling shaft 14 to the first piece 9 of said arm 6.

The activation is effected starting from a hydraulic cylinder 15 withits end 16 articulated to the first piece 9, in correspondence with thelower and rear part of the latter, while the piston 15′ of said cylinder15 is articulated, according to the point 16, simultaneously to twoplates 18 and 19, the first of them articulated via its other end 20 tothe first piece 9 while the second plate 19 is articulated via its otherend 21 to the second piece 13 of the arm 6. In this way, when the piston15′ of the cylinder 15 is extended or retracted, the swiveling will beproduced upwards or downwards of the second piece 13 with respect to thefirst piece and therefore of the arm 6, starting from said first piece9.

Moreover, the arm 6 can carry out a third rotation movement,specifically of the end chassis 22 which forms part of the actual arm 6,and on which the cleaning tools 7 are fitted.

Said chassis 22 is integral with a third piece 23 of the actual arm 6,this third piece 23 being fitted in an articulated and rotary mannerwith respect to the second piece 13, with the particular feature thatarticulated to a lug 24 of that piece 13 is the end of the piston 25′corresponding to a hydraulic cylinder 25, the body of which isarticulated to the said third piece 23, this articulation beingreferenced with 26, while the articulation of the piston 25′ to the lug24 is referenced with 27.

In accordance with the aforementioned means, when the piston 25′ of thecylinder 25 is extended or retracted the swiveling or rotation isproduced towards the right or left, in the vertical plane, of the thirdpiece 23, and with it that of the chassis 22 on which the cleaning tools7 are fitted.

The said chassis 22 is prolonged to both sides in an array of sections22′ successively articulated together, permitting the assembly to adaptitself to the is different zones or surfaces on which the cleaning isintended to take place, since it is on those sections where the actualcleaning tools 7 are fitted. The articulations between sections 22′ arereferenced with 28, between each pair 22′ of which is a hydrauliccylinder 29 by means of which one or the other orientation of a sectionis carried out with respect to the contiguous one and so an appreciablybent, straight, twisted, etc., trajectory is thus obtained.

Logically, the machine being described will be complemented with theappropriate ducts and means suitable for pumping water and detergentstowards the cleaning tools 7, these elements not having been representedsince they are conventional and in order to permit a greater clarity inthe representation of the means involved in executing the movementswhich the arm 6 can, as a whole, carry out, in accordance with what hasbeen described above.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR,which, being provided for carrying out the cleaning of roof, walls andfloor, of any kind of tunnel no matter its configuration, and beingconstituted on the basis of a crane column fitted in rotating fashion ona transportation vehicle to which column is articulated a telescopic armto which in turn is articulated an arm holding the cleaning tools, suchas brushes and similar, characterized in that said arm (6) holding thecleaning tools (7) comprises a first piece (9) for articulation on theend of the telescopic arm (3) of the crane, on which first piece (9) isin turn articulated a second piece (13) on which is in turn articulateda third piece (23) integral with a chassis (22) from which emergearticulated on one side and the other an array of sections (22′)successively articulated together, intended to receive the assembly ofthe corresponding cleaning tools (7); provision having been made for thearticulations between the telescopic arm (3) of the crane and of thedifferent pieces of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7) toconsist of means which enable the rotation in the horizontal plane toone side and the other of the actual arm (6) holding the cleaning tools(7), as well as the rotation upwards and downwards of that arm (6), andthe swiveling and lateral rotation of the chassis (22) on which thecleaning tools (7) are fitted.
 8. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLSAND SIMILAR, according to claim 7, characterized in that the means ofrotation in the horizontal plane towards one side and the other of thearm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7) consist of a rotation shaft (8)determining the articulation of the first piece (9) of the arm (6)holding the cleaning tools (7) to the telescopic arm (3) of the crane,said shaft (8) being integral with the actual telescopic arm (3) of thecrane; with the particular feature of incorporating a hydraulic cylinder(10) connected by means of articulation to the first piece (9) of thearm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7), the piston (10′) of saidcylinder (10) being articulated to the actual telescopic arm (3) of thecrane, in such a way that the extension or retraction of said piston(10′) entails the rotation in one direction or the other of the arm (6)holding the cleaning tools (7) with respect to the telescopic arm (3) ofthe crane.
 9. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, accordingto claim 7, characterized in that the means of swiveling upwards ordownwards of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7) consist of anarticulation shaft (14) between the first piece (9) and the second piece(13) of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7), with the particularfeature that articulated to the rear end of the first piece (9) is ahydraulic cylinder (15) whose piston (15′) is articulated (17)simultaneously to two plates (18) and (19), the first of them beingarticulated via its free end (20) to the first piece (9) and the secondplate (19) being articulated via its free end (21) to the second piece(13) of the arm (6), in such a way that the extension or refraction ofthe piston (15′) of said cylinder (15) entails the swiveling upwards ordownwards of the second piece (13) with respect to the first piece (9)and with it that of the rest of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools(7) to which said second piece (13) belongs.
 10. MACHINE FOR CLEANINGTUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 7, characterized in thatthe means for the swiveling and lateral rotation of the chassis (22) forfitting the cleaning tools (7) are constituted starting from the secondand third pieces (13) and (23) of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools(7), provision having been made for a hydraulic cylinder (25)articulated (26) to the third piece (23) and its piston (25′)articulated (27) to a lug (24) of the second piece (13), in such a waythat the extension or retraction of the piston (25′) of said cylinder(25) entails the swiveling to one side or the other of the third piece(23) and with it that of the chassis (22) on which the cleaning tools(7) are fitted.
 11. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR,according to claim 7, characterized in that the successively articulatedsections (22′) of the chassis (22) which belong to the arm (6) holdingthe cleaning tools (7) are connected, in other words, articulated (28)by means of respective hydraulic cylinders (29) in order to permitdifferent angles between the sections (22′) and their adaptation to thesurface to clean.
 12. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR,according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes ducts for waterand detergent for cleaning, along with handling and control elements forthe correct functioning of the system.
 13. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS,WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 8, characterized in that the meansof swiveling upwards or downwards of the arm (6) holding the cleaningtools (7) consist of an articulation shaft (14) between the first piece(9) and the second piece (13) of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools(7), with the particular feature that articulated to the rear end of thefirst piece (9) is a hydraulic cylinder (15) whose piston (15′) isarticulated (17) simultaneously to two plates (18) and (19), the firstof them being articulated via its free end (20) to the first piece (9)and the second plate (19) being articulated via its free end (21) to thesecond piece (13) of the arm (6), in such a way that the extension orrefraction of the piston (15′) of said cylinder (15) entails theswiveling upwards or downwards of the second piece (13) with respect tothe first piece (9) and with it that of the rest of the arm (6) holdingthe cleaning tools (7) to which said second piece (13) belongs. 14.MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 8,characterized in that the means for the swiveling and lateral rotationof the chassis (22) for fitting the cleaning tools (7) are constitutedstarting from the second and third pieces (13) and (23) of the arm (6)holding the cleaning tools (7), provision having been made for ahydraulic cylinder (25) articulated (26) to the third piece (23) and itspiston (25′) articulated (27) to a lug (24) of the second piece (13), insuch a way that the extension or retraction of the piston (25′) of saidcylinder (25) entails the swiveling to one side or the other of thethird piece (23) and with it that of the chassis (22) on which thecleaning tools (7) are fitted.
 15. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLSAND SIMILAR, according to claim 9, characterized in that the means forthe swiveling and lateral rotation of the chassis (22) for fitting thecleaning tools (7) are constituted starting from the second and thirdpieces (13) and (23) of the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7),provision having been made for a hydraulic cylinder (25) articulated(26) to the third piece (23) and its piston (25′) articulated (27) to alug (24) of the second piece (13), in such a way that the extension orretraction of the piston (25′) of said cylinder (25) entails theswiveling to one side or the other of the third piece (23) and with itthat of the chassis (22) on which the cleaning tools (7) are fitted. 16.MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 8,characterized in that the successively articulated sections (22′) of thechassis (22) which belong to the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7)are connected, in other words, articulated (28) by means of respectivehydraulic cylinders (29) in order to permit different angles between thesections (22′) and their adaptation to the surface to clean.
 17. MACHINEFOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 9,characterized in that the successively articulated sections (22′) of thechassis (22) which belong to the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7)are connected, in other words, articulated (28) by means of respectivehydraulic cylinders (29) in order to permit different angles between thesections (22′) and their adaptation to the surface to clean.
 18. MACHINEFOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 10,characterized in that the successively articulated sections (22′) of thechassis (22) which belong to the arm (6) holding the cleaning tools (7)are connected, in other words, articulated (28) by means of respectivehydraulic cylinders (29) in order to permit different angles between thesections (22′) and their adaptation to the surface to clean.
 19. MACHINEFOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 8,characterized in that it includes ducts for water and detergent forcleaning, along with handling and control elements for the correctfunctioning of the system.
 20. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS ANDSIMILAR, according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes ductsfor water and detergent for cleaning, along with handling and controlelements for the correct functioning of the system.
 21. MACHINE FORCLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS AND SIMILAR, according to claim 10,characterized in that it includes ducts for water and detergent forcleaning, along with handling and control elements for the correctfunctioning of the system.
 22. MACHINE FOR CLEANING TUNNELS, WALLS ANDSIMILAR, according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes ductsfor water and detergent for cleaning, along with handling and controlelements for the correct functioning of the system.